What it is
Large cranes, roughly 150 tons and up, cover big all-terrain cranes and lattice-boom crawler cranes. They’re used for heavy industrial equipment, large steel and precast packages, and long-duration projects. These lifts take more planning, transport, and lead time than anything else on this site.
Typical specs
- Typical capacity: roughly 150 tons and up, into the hundreds of tons for the largest all-terrain and crawler cranes
- Typical reach: roughly 200 feet and beyond, depending on boom and jib configuration
- Setup & transport: large all-terrains typically need several support trucks for counterweight; crawler cranes are hauled in pieces and assembled on site, which can take a day or more and needs room for assembly
Those are headline figures. A crane’s rated capacity drops sharply as the load moves farther from the crane, so at the radius your job needs it may lift only a fraction of its rated tonnage. The crane company sizes the crane from its load charts using your weight, distances, and site.
What large cranes are used for
- Heavy industrial and process equipment
- Large steel, precast, and tilt-up packages
- Long-duration crane support on big projects
- Tandem or critical lifts with a written lift plan
Typical Phoenix and East Valley jobs
- Equipment sets on semiconductor, data center, and industrial projects
- Large steel and precast packages
- Heavy mechanical and electrical gear
- Multi-week crane support on big commercial builds
Not sure you need this much crane? Many heavy-looking lifts fit an 80–120 ton all-terrain once the radius is known.
What does large crane rental cost?
It varies with the crane, the hours, travel, crew, rigging, and the site. As a rough guide, our crane rental cost guide lists large all-terrain cranes at roughly ~$300 – $700+/hr, billed hourly or daily plus counterweight trucking, and long-duration cranes (weeks or months) on weekly or monthly rates quoted per job. Those are commonly cited ballpark ranges, not Phoenix quotes or a price offer. Ask about minimum hours and how travel is billed, and get a written quote for your lift.
What to have ready when you request a quote
Crane companies price a lift from a handful of facts. The more of these you can share, the faster and more accurate your quote:
- The load: what it is, approximate weight, and dimensions. Spec sheets or submittals for HVAC units, generators, or machinery are ideal.
- The pick and set points: where the crane can park, how far horizontally the load has to travel (radius), and how high it needs to go.
- Site conditions: ground surface (paved, compacted, soft dirt), slopes, overhead power lines, trees, and whether the crane would sit on a street or sidewalk.
- Timing: date, start time, and whether the work must happen early morning, at night, or on a weekend.
- Rigging: whether you have rigging and a qualified rigger and signal person, or need the crane company to supply them.
How it works
- Tell us about the lift using the quote form: the load, the reach, the site, and your date.
- We line up the right crew from the vetted, licensed and insured local crane companies we work with — one that handles that type and size of lift in your area.
- You get taken care of The crane company reaches out promptly, usually the same business day, to confirm details, schedule, and quote. You work directly with them, and there’s no fee to you.
Safety and compliance basics
On construction sites, federal OSHA rules for cranes (29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC) require, among other things, a certified or qualified operator, qualified riggers and signal persons, ground conditions that can support the crane, and specific clearances from energized power lines. In Arizona, workplace safety is administered by ADOSH, which adopts these standards. A reputable crane company will ask about these items up front — that’s a good sign, not red tape.
Lifts that are heavy relative to the crane’s capacity, over occupied areas, or involve multiple cranes often require a written lift plan. Lifts from a public street or sidewalk usually need a right-of-way or street-use permit from the city; the crane company or your general contractor can typically advise on who pulls it.
